Oscillograph-lamp-control means



Jan. 27, 1931. J. w. LEGG 1,790,158

OSCILLOGRAPH LAMP CONTROIPMEANS Filed June 7, g

ATTbRNEY WITNESSES: INVE NTOR i Joseph M/L egg.

E'30 a i photographs by use of a shutter which comv plicates the apparatus and operation, and

renders the instrument useless, for recording Patented Jule-1,1931

UNITED- STATES PATENT" orrlcii j Josnrn w. LEGG, or wmxrNsBun/e, rnNNsYLvANm, sssreNon 'ro wns'rnwenousn ELEc'rmc 4: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a CORPORATION or rENNsYLvANIA,

OSCILLOGBAPH-LAIP-CONTIBOL ms Application filed June 7,

I particularly 'to means for controlling the I, ously.

light sources thereof.

One object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the'light source of an 'oscillograph or similar device that shall per;

mit of instantaneous illumination of the instrument.-

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide means for maintaining the filament of light sources for oscillographs at a desired temperature after being heated instantane- A further object of my invention is to provide control means for an oscillograph that shall condition the same. for instant demand during long periods of time to record'tonditions' in a commercial transmission line when a short-circuit phenomenon occurs.

In the prior art, the light sources of electric indicating devices, such as oscillographs,.'

are not supplied with any means ,for accelerating the heating thereof, an appreciable length of time being required for the accumulation ofsuflicient energy to cause the light source to emit .an adequate intensity of light to permit the instrument to function; The time consumed for the heating of the filament is so great that itisnecessaryto await the energization of the light source and make such momentary phenomena as a chance short circuit on commerical power lines. p

In my invention, the filament of the light source is heated to a high temperature in a very brief period of time, by the discharge of an adequate quantity of stored electrical energy, as from a condenser 01'' inductance through the said filament, and is subsequently maintained at a desired temperatureby another energy supply. The time consumed to provide the illumination necessary to the operation of the instrument is so brief as to be almost negligible, and no shutter need be used to make photo aphs. Thus, the record 7 may start practica y instantaneously with the discharge of the stored energy into the light source ieaa. semis. 114,107.

1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view 0 condenser supplies the stored electrical enelectrical installation embodying my invention in which a transformer supplies the stored electrical energy.

, As shown in Fig; 1; the device comprises,

in general, a light source 1, a'control relay '2, a condenser 3, a batter 4 and a resistor 5.

The light source 1 is a amp of a usual type found in oscillographs. It is supported by a ,socket 6,to the terminals of 'w tached the conductors of a circuit 8, to be 1ch. are athereinafter described. j I

The control rela 2 is of a usual quickan electrical instal- 18131011 embodying my invention in which a ig. 2 is a die. ammatic drawing of an acting type embo yinga coil 20 that is energized directly from, or through a transformer 21 connected to a commercial transf mission line 22 and so constructed and connectedthatit closes the relay on the ,occurrence of a short circuit in the line; The coil 20 may 'also be connected across an inductive shunt in a direct-current power line.

The condenser? is a standard condenser of suflicient capacitance to hold a quantity of electrostatic energy when charged'to the potential of the battery 4, to heat the filament brilliancy.

The battery 4 is a' battery of high voltage capable of sup lying sufiicmntenergy to energize the condenser 3 to perform ltsfunction in heating the; filament of the light means, and, when the cont Irelay 2 is closed, to

maintain the filam'en of-thelight source 1 a high degree of luminosity.

The reslstbr 5' is of suficient resistance to reduce the current flowing to the proper .8 of the light source lfto at leastits normal I value, whenthe-light source 1 is energized are connected in series across the condenser and forma circuit 8 in series with the battery 4 and the resistor 5. With the control 'relay 2 open, no current flows in circuit 8.

The coil of the control relay 2 is so designed that the relay closes when a short circuit occurs on the line, the phenomenon of which is to be recorded. When'this phenomenon occurs, the control relay 2 is closed to permit nearly all of the electrostatically stored energy of the condenser 3 to discharge through the light source 1, heating the filament thereof to at least normal brilliancy'.

The closing of the control relay 2 completes the circuit 8, and current frond the battery 4 flows through the resistor 5 and the light source 1, which may be maintained at any desired degree of luminosity by properly selecting the resistor 5.

By the above described installation, a-

means is provided for instantaneously lighting the light source 1 and thereby causing a record to be made on the photographic film 23 in accordance with the deflections of an oscillograph deflecting element 24 beginning virtually the instant the short circuit is of suflicient magnitude to close the control relay 2. The deflecting element 24 may be connected across the line 22 through a resistance element 25 as shown.

The installation in Fig. 2 is an adaptation of my invention, for the instantaneous heating of the filament of the light source of an oscillograph, embodying a transformer as the means of storing the electrical energy to heat the filament. It comprises, in general, alight source 1, a control relay 2, a transformer 9, a valve 10, a battery 11 and a resistor 12.

The light source 1 and the control relay 2 are of usual types, as hereinbefore described, except that the normal position of the control relay 2 is closed instead of open and its coil is so connected to a transmission line to be tested that it opens when a short circuit occurs in the line.

The transformer 9 is of a usual type, but relatively large, for reducing the alternatingcurrent voltage applied to terminals 13 to a proper value to supply the light source 1, when photographs are being made by the 'os cillograph. It comprises an iron core 14, a

primary coil 15 and a secondary coil 16.

There are many more turns in the primary winding 15 than in the secondary-winding 16. The valve 10 is a one way valve of a usual type adapted to rectify alternating current flowing through it from the terminals 13. The battery 11 is'a storage battery compris ing a small number of cells.

The resistor 12 is adjustable and of such resistance that a portion of it will restrict the current flowing in a circuit 17, to be hereinafter described; the other portion across which the valve 10 is connected, as hereinafter explained, is of such resistance that a relatively large current will cause a greater drop in potential in it than the potential drop across the valve 10, while a small current will cause a drop of potential less than that across the valve 10.

When the control relay 2 is closed, three circuits 17. 18 and 19 are comprised by the above described elements, a pulsating-current circuit 17, a continuous-current circuit 18', and the circuit 19 which carries current only when the instrument is in operation.

The pulsating current circuit 17 extends from one of the terminals 13, through a portion of the resistor 12, which reduces the quantity of current flowing, through the oneway valve 1.0, the contact members of the control relay 2, the battery 11 and back to the complementary terminal 13. A relativel v large quantity of current flows in circuit 17 to cause a large drop of potential in the resistor 12, the valve 10 being connected across a sufficiently long-portion of the resistor 12 to provide an easier path for the large current, with the result that virtually all the current flows through the valve 10 and is rectified to pass through the battery 11 and maintain it incharged condition.

The continuous-current circuit 18 extends from one terminal of the battery 11 through the primary coil 15 of the transformer 9 and across the contact members of the control relay 2 to the complementary terminal of the battery 11. The continuous current maintains a strong electromagnetic field in the core 14 of transformer 9.

The circuit 19 comprises the secondary winding 16 of the transformer 9 and the light source 1.

\Vhen the control relay 2 is opened by a short circuit in the line to which it responds, the circuit 18, which carries the current maintaining the electromagnetic field in core 14 of transformer 16, is opened, and the stored electric energy in the core 14 discharges itself instantaneously, through the secondary coil 16, thereby providing sufiicient current to heat the filament of the light source 1 to a high degree of brilliancy, in an exceedingly short time.

The opening of the control relay 2 opens the circuit 17, and the current from the terminals 13 takes a new course through the length of the resistor 12 and the primary coil 15 of transformer 9, returning to the complementary terminal 13. The current taken by the transformer 9 to supply the light source 1 is so small that the drop in potential in the portion of the resistor 12 which par allels the valve 10 is less than the drop in pogible so far as the detrimental effect of a time la is concerned.

()scil ographs without a shutter or with the shutter open, and supplied with a photographic film, may be left connected to a commercial transmission line and will automatically record the current pulsations, when any short circuit sufiicient to operate the control relay occurs. B this means, records may be had of the actua phenomena of a commercial circuit, without entailing the risk and expense incidental to an experimental short circuit which is required at the present time because the oscillograph of the prior art re quires an appreciable time for the light source toaheat up to full brilliancy.

My invention is not limited to the specific detalls illustrated as it may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my-invention:

1. The combination with an incandescent lamp, of means for momentarily increasing the voltage impressed thereon to a value above the voltage suppl therefor; said means comprising a con enser, means for charging said condenser, and means for discharging said condenser through said lamp.

2. In combinatioma filamentary element, means for discharging stored electric energy through said element, whereby the momentary flow of current therethrough is in excess of the normal operating current, and means for preventing the flow of current through said element from decreasing to a current value below the normal operatin as been after said stored electric energy discharged.

3. In combination, anincandescent lamp havi a filament, a condenser, means for charging said condenser, and means for si multaneously connecting said lamp filament across said condenser and across said charging means.

4. In combination, an incandescent lamp, a condenser, means for char 'ng said condenser through a circuit inc uding an impedance', and means for discharging said condenser through a second circuit including said lamp. w z

5. combination, an incandescent lamp, a condenser, direct-current voltage source connected to said condenser through-a resistance, and means for. connecting said lamp across said condenser. y Y

6. In combination, an incandescent lamp, a condenser, a direct-current voltage source connected to said condenser through a resistance, means for connecting said lamp acm said condenser in response to. an electrical disturbance on a transmission line.

light in accordance with the electrical wa tions caused by an electrical transient on said power line, and means responsive to said transient only for impressing said beam of light upon a light-sensitive material.

' 8. An electrical system comprising a transmission line, means, including an incandescent lamp, for deflecting a beam of light in accordance with the electrical variations caused by an electrical disturbance on said transmission line, and means for lightingv said lamp in response to said electrical disturbance.

9. In an electrical system, a transmission line, means, including an incandescent lamp, for deflecting a beam of light in accordance with the electrical variations caused by an electrical disturbance on said transmission 1 line, means for discharging stored electrical ener through said lamp in response to said electrical disturbance, whereby the momentary flow of current through said lamp is in excess of the normal operating current, and means for preventing the flow .of current through said lamp for decreasing to a value below the normal operating current after said stored electric energy has been discharged. j I

10. In an electrical system comprising a transmission line and an oscillograph lamp, the method which comprises discharging a said lamp in response to a disturbance on said 11. The method of operating an oscillograph includin an incandescent lam which comprises disc ar 'nga quantity 0 stored electrical energy t rough saidlamp and immediately thereafter passing suflicient current through said lamp to maintain it in an incandescent condition.

12. An electrical system comprising a transmission line, means, includin an in candescent lamp, for supplying a am of light and for deflecting said beam of light in accordance with the electrical variations caused by an electrical disturbance on said transmission line, and means for lighting said lamp in response to, and for the duration of, said electrical disturbance.

13. Arecording system comprising a lightsensitive'surface, a mirror, a source of light for passing a beam of light to said mirror and thence to said surface, and means includin said mirror, for deflecting said beam of vligfiit in accordance with thevariations of a quantity, as efiected by the occurrence of a transient, a device cont-rolling energization of said source of light, and means responsive to the occurrence of said transient for actuating said device.

14; The combination with an electrical power circuit, adeflectin'g system including a reflecting surface, and means for control. ling said stem in accordance with a charact'eristic-o a quantity of said power circuit,

4 of a light-sensitive surface, means for directing a beam of light to said reflecting surface and thence to saiddight-sensitive surface, and means responsive to the occurrence of a chance transient on said power circuitfor operating said second named means.

15. An electrical system comprising a transmission line, means, including an incandescent lamp, for deflecting a beam of light in accordance with the electrical varia tions caused by an electrical disturbance on said transmission line, and means for controlling the current flow through said lamp in response to said electrical disturbance.

16. In combination, an electrical-transmission line, a deflecting system, means for controlling said deflecting system in accordance with a characteristic of a quantity of said transmission line, means normally inactive for supplying a beam of energy and 'for directing said beam intdcoacting relation with :said deflecting system, a surface sensitive to said beam of energy, and means for activating said second means in response to the occurrence of a disturbance on said transmission line.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto.

subscribed my name this 2nd day of-June,

JOSEPH W. LEGG. 

